Mining Incidents
Search Operators Mines Alerts Research Controllers Fatalgrams About
Countries
Peru Chile
English Español
← Back to search

Portable Rock Drill #317: 84 MSHA citations Metal/Non-Metal

BMC Aggregates LC · Surface
ELK RUN HEIGHTS, Black Hawk County, IA  ·  Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 1301109

Portable Rock Drill #317 has $15K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 0 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

Watch this mine

Email me when a new MSHA incident is filed at Portable Rock Drill #317.

Fatalities
0
Total incidents
8
Years on record
1985–2016
Latest incident
Jun 2016
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
84
citations
10
significant & substantial
$14,698
proposed penalties
$14,698
paid to date
100% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $0 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
See BMC Aggregates LC's full MSHA compliance history →
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
60
inspections on record
508
inspection hours
n/a
citations per 100 inspection hours
ⓘ This rate is recorded citations divided by MSHA inspection hours, per 100 hours. It reflects inspection effort, not mine size or production.
Rate withheld: 508 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Imminent-danger orders
ⓘ A Section 107(a) order removes miners from an area when an inspector finds an imminent danger. Each order is lifted once the condition is corrected, so this counts orders issued, not orders now in effect.
1
Section 107(a) orders
Most recent order: 2012-02-09.
On record since 2012.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.

Portable Rock Drill #317 has $15K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 0 contested dockets.

Penalty disposition
ⓘ Differences between proposed and paid penalties reflect both settlements and conference reductions and amounts still owed. Outstanding is the balance currently owed.
$15K
proposed penalties
$15K
current assessed
$15K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
83 assessments are final orders; 0 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2025-10-08.
Source: MSHA assessed-violations and conference/litigation data, updated weekly.
Violation severity profile
ⓘ Shares are computed over citations that carry the MSHA gravity and negligence coding; a small share of records are uncoded.
12.0%
significant & substantial
3.6%
high negligence or reckless
12.0%
reasonably likely or greater
42.2%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 10.8% low, 85.5% moderate, 3.6% high, 0.0% reckless.
Source: MSHA violations gravity and negligence coding, updated weekly.
Health sampling
ⓘ A sample is a point in time compliance measurement, not an individual exposure history. These figures describe MSHA sampling records and do not establish causation or personal dose.

Metal and nonmetal contaminants (personal samples)
ⓘ Many samples are screening measurements of substances with no applicable exposure limit; they are counted as samples but excluded from every over-limit figure. Over-limit shares use only limit-tested samples.

Last sampled: 2025-10-08
7%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
34
samples
30
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
  • Manganese fumes142 over
  • Arsenic fumes14
  • Beryllium fumes14
  • Cadmium oxide fumes14
Show the individual readings (100)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Occupation
2010-01-06 Manganese fumes 13.36 5 2.67 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Manganese fumes 10.11 5 2.02 Welder, etc.
2025-10-08 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Drill Operator, Rotary
2025-07-23 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Drill Operator, Rotary
2024-10-17 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Drill Operator, Rotary
2024-09-17 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Drill Operator, Rotary
2010-04-07 Copper fumes 5.49 300 0.02 Welder, etc.
2010-04-07 Arsenic fumes 0 1500 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-04-07 Arsenic fumes 0 1500 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-04-07 Molybdenum fumes 0 20 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-04-07 Lead fumes 0 450 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-04-07 Nickel fumes 0 3 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-04-07 Cobalt fumes 0 300 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-04-07 Molybdenum fumes 0 20 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-04-07 Molybdenum fumes 0 20 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-04-07 Manganese fumes 0 5 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-04-07 Zinc oxide fumes 0 10 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-04-07 Cadmium oxide fumes 0 100 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-04-07 Vanadium fumes 0 50 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-04-07 Nickel fumes 0 3 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-04-07 Cobalt fumes 0 300 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-04-07 Chromium, insoluble 0 3 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-04-07 Cadmium oxide fumes 0 100 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-04-07 Magnesium oxide fumes 0 20 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-04-07 Beryllium fumes 0 6 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-04-07 Chromium, insoluble 0 3 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-04-07 Iron oxide fumes 0 20 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-04-07 Cadmium oxide fumes 0 100 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-04-07 Iron oxide fumes 0.13 20 0.01 Welder, etc.
2010-04-07 Manganese fumes 0 5 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-04-07 Nickel fumes 0 3 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-04-07 Magnesium oxide fumes 0 20 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-04-07 Vanadium fumes 0 50 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-04-07 Cobalt fumes 0 300 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-04-07 Arsenic fumes 0 1500 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-04-07 Copper fumes 0 300 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-04-07 Manganese fumes 0 5 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-04-07 Vanadium fumes 0 50 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-04-07 Zinc oxide fumes 0 10 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-04-07 Beryllium fumes 0 6 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-04-07 Copper fumes 0 300 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-04-07 Zinc oxide fumes 0 10 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-04-07 Magnesium oxide fumes 0 20 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-04-07 Lead fumes 0 450 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-04-07 Lead fumes 0 450 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-04-07 Beryllium fumes 0 6 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-04-07 Iron oxide fumes 0.12 20 0.01 Welder, etc.
2010-04-07 Chromium, insoluble 0 3 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Vanadium fumes 0 50 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Nickel fumes 0 3 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Zinc oxide fumes 0 10 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Lead fumes 0 450 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Iron oxide fumes 0.27 20 0.01 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Magnesium oxide fumes 0.11 20 0.01 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Cobalt fumes 0 300 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Chromium, insoluble 0 3 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Copper fumes 0 300 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Manganese fumes 0.26 5 0.05 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Arsenic fumes 0 1500 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Zinc oxide fumes 0.03 10 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Beryllium fumes 0 6 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Nickel fumes 0 3 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Molybdenum fumes 0 20 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Molybdenum fumes 0 20 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Vanadium fumes 0 50 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Cadmium oxide fumes 0 100 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Molybdenum fumes 0 20 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Copper fumes 5.49 300 0.02 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Cobalt fumes 0 300 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Iron oxide fumes 0.19 20 0.01 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Cadmium oxide fumes 0 100 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Beryllium fumes 0 6 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Chromium, insoluble 0 3 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Lead fumes 0 450 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Vanadium fumes 0 50 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Nickel fumes 0 3 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Zinc oxide fumes 0 10 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Molybdenum fumes 0 20 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Manganese fumes 0.33 5 0.07 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Magnesium oxide fumes 0.64 20 0.03 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Lead fumes 9.6 450 0.02 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Magnesium oxide fumes 0.23 20 0.01 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Nickel fumes 0.06 3 0.02 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Vanadium fumes 0 50 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Zinc oxide fumes 0.02 10 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Arsenic fumes 0 1500 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Beryllium fumes 0 6 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Cadmium oxide fumes 0 100 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Chromium, insoluble 0.4 3 0.13 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Cobalt fumes 5.1 300 0.02 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Copper fumes 25.1 300 0.08 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Iron oxide fumes 10.01 20 0.50 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Lead fumes 12.94 450 0.03 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Magnesium oxide fumes 0.8 20 0.04 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Molybdenum fumes 0 20 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Arsenic fumes 0 1500 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Nickel fumes 0.05 3 0.02 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Vanadium fumes 0 50 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Zinc oxide fumes 0.03 10 0.00 Welder, etc.
2010-01-06 Magnesium oxide fumes 0.04 20 0.00 Welder, etc.
Showing 100 of 202 laboratory readings: every over-limit reading, then the most recent. MSHA reads one air sample several times, so readings outnumber the samples counted above. The full set is in MSHA's Personal Health Samples file.
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly. Metal/nonmetal contaminant figures come from MSHA's Personal Health Samples and Area Samples files (public record), updated weekly.

Portable Rock Drill #317 recorded 10.94 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2016.

Injury rate, 2016
ⓘ This rate is reportable injury cases per 100 full-time-equivalent workers per year, computed as 200,000 times cases divided by MSHA operator-reported employee-hours. Cases are injuries MSHA graded degree 01 through 07; accident-only events that hurt no one are excluded, and so are contractor injuries, whose hours do not attach to a single mine. Rates begin in 2000, when quarterly employment reporting starts, and are withheld below 20,000 hours in a year.
10.94
total case rate
5.47
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US metal and nonmetal mining average was 2.17 and the all-US-mining average was 2.59 cases per 100 workers.
In Iowa, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 2.59 cases per 100 workers that year.
Under 100,000 employee-hours were reported that year, so a single case moves the rate by two or more. Read the figure as approximate.
Year total case rate days-away fatal
2016 * 10.94 5.47 0.000
2015 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2014 * 6.08 6.08 0.000
2013 * 5.15 5.15 0.000
2012 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2011 * 4.78 4.78 0.000
2010 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2009 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
* Fewer than 100,000 employee-hours that year; the rate is less stable.
Source: injury cases from MSHA accident and injury records; employee-hours from MSHA quarterly employment reports. Rate is cases per 100 full-time-equivalent workers, operator employees only.
Ownership history
  1. Paul Niemann Construction Company, Inc. 1950 to 2023
  2. BMC Aggregates LC 2023 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2025 1
2024 1
2023 1
2017 19
2016 16
2015 15
2014 13
2013 15
2012 18
2011 17
2010 17
2009 17
2008 18
2007 16
2006 16
2005 16
2004 17
2003 21
2002 22
2001 22
2000 17
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Portable Rock Drill #317 sits in Black Hawk County, Iowa, where the Census mining category is 0.1% of county employment.

Local economic context
ⓘ County figures come from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey, 5-year pooled estimates, so the 2023 vintage covers 2019 through 2023. The Census category is 'mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction', which is broader than MSHA jurisdiction and includes oil and gas workers no mine employs. These figures describe the surrounding county, not this mine, and are not a factor in any specific incident.
Black Hawk County, Iowa · Population 130,693
0.1%
Mining share of county employment
$64,581
Median household income
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-year estimates.
Quarterly safety rates
ⓘ Citations per million reported employee-hours. Rates begin in 2000, when MSHA's quarterly employment data starts; earlier incidents are counted but cannot be rate-adjusted. Quarters under 100,000 reported hours are greyed: too few hours for a stable rate.
Citations per million employee-hours, as reported to MSHA
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2025 Q4 0 1 0
2025 Q3 576 0 0 0.0
2025 Q2 211 0 0 0.0
2025 Q1 210 0 0 0.0
2024 Q4 648 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 470 0 0 0.0
2024 Q2 471 0 0 0.0
2024 Q1 158 0 0 0.0
Show 73 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2023 Q4 252 0 0 0.0
2023 Q3 616 0 0 0.0
2023 Q2 623 1 0 1605.1
2023 Q1 86 0 0 0.0
2017 Q1 11,439 0 0 0.0
2016 Q4 8,853 0 0 0.0
2016 Q3 7,903 3 1 379.6
2016 Q2 9,186 0 0 0.0
2016 Q1 10,609 3 0 282.8
2015 Q4 7,757 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 7,203 1 0 138.8
2015 Q2 7,867 0 0 0.0
2015 Q1 10,180 6 0 589.4
2014 Q4 7,817 0 0 0.0
2014 Q3 7,552 0 0 0.0
2014 Q2 8,453 0 0 0.0
2014 Q1 9,064 0 0 0.0
2013 Q4 8,371 0 0 0.0
2013 Q3 9,424 0 0 0.0
2013 Q2 11,612 1 0 86.1
2013 Q1 9,420 2 2 212.3
2012 Q4 11,721 0 0 0.0
2012 Q3 11,470 3 0 261.6
2012 Q2 12,530 0 0 0.0
2012 Q1 8,918 10 4 1121.3
2011 Q4 11,358 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 10,616 0 0 0.0
2011 Q2 11,772 0 0 0.0
2011 Q1 8,089 3 0 370.9
2010 Q4 11,078 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 11,051 0 0 0.0
2010 Q2 11,732 2 0 170.5
2010 Q1 9,441 3 2 317.8
2009 Q4 10,472 0 0 0.0
2009 Q3 11,562 0 0 0.0
2009 Q2 11,767 2 0 170.0
2009 Q1 10,760 3 0 278.8
2008 Q4 11,384 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 12,234 0 0 0.0
2008 Q2 11,715 2 0 170.7
2008 Q1 8,967 2 0 223.0
2007 Q4 10,583 0 0 0.0
2007 Q3 10,365 0 0 0.0
2007 Q2 11,451 0 0 0.0
2007 Q1 8,507 1 0 117.6
2006 Q4 10,339 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 11,285 2 0 177.2
2006 Q2 10,991 1 0 91.0
2006 Q1 8,441 0 0 0.0
2005 Q4 11,168 2 0 179.1
2005 Q3 10,368 1 0 96.5
2005 Q2 10,193 0 0 0.0
2005 Q1 10,169 5 0 491.7
2004 Q4 9,742 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 9,528 0 0 0.0
2004 Q2 10,620 0 0 0.0
2004 Q1 11,941 8 0 670.0
2003 Q4 13,453 0 0 0.0
2003 Q3 15,016 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 15,021 0 0 0.0
2003 Q1 11,091 3 0 270.5
2002 Q4 13,607 0 0 0.0
2002 Q3 14,719 0 0 0.0
2002 Q2 15,648 0 0 0.0
2002 Q1 11,033 5 1 453.2
2001 Q4 14,545 0 0 0.0
2001 Q3 14,229 1 0 70.3
2001 Q2 13,479 0 0 0.0
2001 Q1 12,845 0 0 0.0
2000 Q4 12,361 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 13,134 6 0 456.8
2000 Q2 9,596 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 8,758 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

8 on file

2016 · 2 incidents

June 14, 2016 IA · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Paul Niemann Construction Company, Inc. · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE had raised empty box on dump truck and released tailgate. Tailgate did not property released so ee attempted to manually release tailgate when got fingers pinched between tailgate and tailgate spreader chain. Contact resulted in lacerations to left hand index and middle fingers which required stitches. EE was treated at local hospital and released.

March 17, 2016 IA · Metal/Non-Metal welder (shop) MACHINERY
Paul Niemann Construction Company, Inc. · Contact with hot objects or substances

EE was using LP torch to cut metal on inner screen box of screening plant when hot metal slag flew back & small piece went into EE's rt ear. Was taken to local clinic for exam, after follow up visit EE was referred to specialist on 4/1/16. EE has not had any lost workdays, hasn't been placed on restricted duty, nor rec'd any med. treatment till being seen by specialist

2014 · 1 incident

February 5, 2014 IA · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman MACHINERY
Paul Niemann Construction Company, Inc. · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee was working with 2 other ee removing head pulley wiper & mounting bracket on loading bin. When lifting mounting plate off bin employee felt sharp pain in left groin. thought he had just pulled muscle. Pain still present next morning so employee was sent to doctor and was diagnosed with hernia. Employee under went hernia repair surgery in Fri 2/7/14.

2013 · 1 incident

January 28, 2013 IA · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Paul Niemann Construction Company, Inc. · Fall onto or against objects

EE was working on loading bin, when getting down from unit he slipped on ice and fell backwards hitting his head on the tire rim of the bin he was working on. EE was taken to Clinic and relieved 6 staples. EE was allowed to RTW for remainder of shift with restriction that he would work at ground level. He did miss the following day 1/29/13 due to headache.

2011 · 1 incident

2007 · 1 incident

November 12, 2007 IA · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Paul Niemann Construction Company, Inc. · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was digging holes for new fence, put in (hole digger) and twisted his lower back.

1989 · 1 incident

March 16, 1989 IA · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech FIRE
Paul Niemann Construction Company, Inc. · Contact with hot objects or substances

EMPLOYEE WAS TAKING OFF AN ALCOHOL INJECTOR TO PREPLACE A WORN OUT GASKET.HE FORGOT TO BLEED OUT THE PRESSURE AND WHEN THE CAP WAS REMOVED,THE ALCOHOL SPRAYED OUT ONTO HIM AND TO A TROUBLE LIG HT HE WAS SUING.THE LIGHT BULB EXPLODED CATCHINGTHE EMPLOYEE ON FIRE.EMPLOYEE HAS BURNS ON HANDS ARMS, FACE AND CHEST.

1985 · 1 incident